Spar distributor Blakemore Trade Partners has opened its 100th new store since the start of its 2014/15 financial year.

The 100th site is a Rontec forecourt store in Slough, and Blakemore has also begun to fulfill its contract with Euro Garages, so far servicing eight sites. This will increase to 103 by the end of the year, making Euro Garages its largest national account holder.

Blakemore Trade Partners managing director Jerry Marwood pointed to the company’s stability, values and culture of innovation as reasons for store growth.

“These reasons, along with the increasing profile of the Spar brand, have meant record-breaking recruitment numbers for the last two years,” he said.

“We are living in times of great change in our industry, but at A.F. Blakemore we still share the same stability and values that have been around for 100 years and we believe will be around for 100 more.”

Another recent recruit is independent retailer Jay Cohil, of Cosford Garage (pictured), Albrighton.

“Jay is one of the outstanding retailers of his peer group and joined us bringing two stores into Spar,” Marwood said.

“We matched that by enabling him to purchase two more sites. A rebranding and re-launch programme has kicked off and is producing brilliant results for both businesses.”